The Sun Herald reported that the increase was most dramatic in Hancock County, where the numbers from 2007-09 showed 11.6 percent of families were living in poverty, and that percentage nearly doubled to 20.9 in the 2010-12 survey.

Though the numbers didn't climb as high in Harrison and Jackson counties, there was an increase. In Harrison County, 12.3 percent of families were living below the poverty line for the 2007-09 survey, and 16.4 percent were counted in 2010-12. In Jackson County, the percentage went from 10.5 in 2007-09 to 11.8 percent in 2010-12.